Moistening device



July 6, 1937. J. H. LEE

I MOISTENING DEVICE Filed May 8, 1955 Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES messes;

PATENT oFFicE 6 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to moistening devices adapted especially to the purpose of moistening gummed labels, gummed envelopeflaps, etc.

The primary object is to provide a simple and highly effective device which can be manufactured cheaply in attractive and durable form.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved moistening device; Fig. 2, an elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3, an end elevational view of the opposite end of the device; Fig. 4, a front elevational view of a demountable closure which preferably is employed for furnishing a top-wall of the font, this View showing a presser-member of cantilever form in raised position, that is, away from its operative position; Fig. 5, an end view of the part shown in Fig. 4, it being noted that the pressermember carried by the closure appears somewhat in perspective, due to a slight twist or offset in the supporting arm which is designed to insure proper positioning of the presser-member in its 5 operative position; Fig. 6, a plan view of the moistening device with the top-closure removed, thus exposing the wick-like moistening element which preferably is employed; Fig. 7, a trans- Verse sectional View taken as indicated at line I of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8, an end elevational View showing' a modification.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1-7, A designates a font which preferably comprises a main body-portion A and a demountable closure A B, a moistening-element within the font and having a portion projecting through a longitudinal slot with which the top-wall of the device is provided; and C, a presser-member which preferably is of cantilever form, and which, in the embodiment being described, has one end formed integrally with an arm which is pivotally connected with one end-flange of the closure A The font A may be of any suitable construction. Preferably, the font-body A and the closure A are formed from sheet brass, or the like. The font is adapted to be supported on a desk, or table. The bottom is shown provided with sup-- porting disks l which are applied by means of a suitable adhesive. These disks may be of rubber or other suitable material.

The closure A provides a top-wall 2 and a down-turned peripheral flange 2 which embracesv inwardly at points 3 and the font wall 4 has the metal struck inwardly at a longitudinal central point 4 The front and rear flanges of the closure have the metal struck in at points indicated at 5. The locking shoulders of the closure are adapted to interlock with the locking shoulders of the font-body. The closure may be readily removed, however, by pressing the front and rear wall of the font-body between thumb and finger, which permits the closure to be lifted off.

The moistening-element B may be of any suitable form, preferably a form adapted to take water from the font by capillary attraction. In the embodiment being described, the moistener consists of a small sheet of cotton felt, a. loopportion of which is carried by a longitudinal bar 6. This bar is shown as the web-portion of a U- shaped bar having arms 6 which are pivotally connected, by rivets 6 with the end-walls of the font-body. The rivets make water-tight connections withthe end-walls of the body. The I bar 6 is supported in the operative position shown in Fig. '7 by inwardly struck bosses 7 carried by the end-walls of the font-body. It will be observed that the bar 6 supports a curvedportion 8 of the wick near the front upper corner of the font-body, this portion projecting above the upper surface of the font-body.

The top-wall 2 of the font-body is provided with an elongated longitudinal slotv 9 through which the portion 8- of the wick projects when the parts are in the operative position. The metal at the front and rear edges of the slot is curved upwar-dly and nicely rounded, as indicated at 9 At their ends, the lips 9 are rounded as shown at 9 in Fig. 4, so that the extremities of the lips thus become flush with the upper surface of the topwall 2. p The presser-member C, in the embodiment being described, comprises a longitudinal strip ID of sheet-metal, one end of which is formed integrally with a rearwardly extending arm l ll (Fig. 2) which is pivotally secured by a rivet Itl to an end-flange of the closure A The essential thing is to properly mount the presser-member on the font; and, preferably, this is effected by equipping the presser-member with an arm which is pivotally connected with an end flange of a demountable closure.

As indicated, the presser-member l0 preferably is in the form of a cantilever. Preferably, the presser-member is quite stationary in the use of the device for moistening adhesive surfaces. When the member [0 is made from sheet metal, it preferably is of concavo-convexform, the concavity being at the lower side, and overlying, in

spaced relation, the portion 8 of the moistening element. The design of the parts and the positioning thereof are such that when a gummed label, for example, is placed upon the top wall 2 and shoved through the space between the member ill and the portion 8 of the moistening element, the paper will be bent or deformed and thus caused to press, with a wiping action, against the curved portion of the moistening element. The result is a thorough moistening of the'gummed surface, and this is effected, or may be effected, without movement of the presser-member lfl.

At its rear longitudinal edge, the member-Ill is equipped with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined up w which is so spaced with relation to the upper surface of the top wall 2 as to readily permit entrance of paper to the constricted space between the presser-member and the moistening element.

It is preferred to positively space the member I0 with relation to themoistening element. This is accomplished by striking the metal downwardly at points lfl in such manner as to form small half-spherical bosses which bear on the upper surface of the top-wall 2.

It will be noted that by employing a cantilever construction for the presser-member [0, the cantilever is leftfree at one end, so that an envelope flap, or other strip of gummed paper, may be readily inserted and moistened. This is a preferred form of construction largely because the gummed flaps of envelopes may be readily inserted and moistened, while the body of the envelope projects away from the end of the moistening-device. The envelope fiap will slip readily under the rounded boss lfl at the free end of the cantilever. It is not essential that the member l0 should act like a pivoted weight. It is preferred that it should be practically stationary during the moistening operation. It is convenient, however, to mount the element In so that it can be lifted away from the companion parts shown in Fig. '7, thus making it possible to thoroughly cleanse the mouth of the slot and the concave surface of the presser-member, should this be required at any time.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the construction corresponds in all respects with the construction already described, except that the presser-member, designated 0', is rigidly mounted on an end-flange of the closure A Thus, the member C is shown as comprising an elongated longitudinal presser bar Ill and a short downturned arm Ill which is rigidly secured, by rivets lo to an end-flange of the closure A This form of connection can be used at both ends of the moistening device, if desired. The operation of the form of device shown in Fig. 8 is the same as the operation of the embodiment previously described.

The improved moistening device may be conveniently placed upon a desk or table and may be used with facility for moistening purposes, without the necessity of securing the font-body to the supporting table; While this embodiment is preferred, obviously the font may be provided with means for securing it rigidly to a table or bench, if desired.

Referring again to the construction shown in Figs. 2-7 the arm Ill preferably is slightly bent inwardly, or twisted, so that whenthe pressermember is swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the operative position, the lug W at the free extremity of the member l0 will strike the top wall 2 first, after which complete depression of the arm 1 I! will cause the member ID to assume a horizontal position. Preferably, the pivotal connection at Ill is such as to form a stiff joint and cause the arm Ill to frictionally hug the endflange of the closure, so that the lugs Hi will be seated firmly against the top-wall 2. In this condition, the member ID is under a certain amount of'tension, tending to hold the free end of the arm in proper bearing position. If desired, the arm it may be equipped (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) near its juncture withthe member II] with a snap-lug l l adapted to engage a corresponding indentation l2 on the end-flange of the closure.

Various modifications of the invention are contemplated.

,The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom,

but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: r l

1. A moistening-device comprising a font equipped with a closure having end-walls embracing the end-walls of the font-body, said closure providing a top-wall which is provided near one edge with a longitudinal slot; a moisteningelement mounted in said font having a portion extending through said slot; and a cantilever presser-member overlying said slot and having one end equipped with an arm and horizontal connecting means for pivotally securing said arm to the corresponding end-flange of the closure and providing frictional resistance to upward movement of said arm.

2. A moistening-device comprising a fontbody; a supporting bar within said font equipped at its ends with arms pivotally connected with the end-walls of said body; a closure forming a top-wall for the font and having a single longitudinal slot beneath which said bar is disposed; a wick having a loop-portion supported on said bar and extending through said slot and a presser-member overlying said slot and spaced from said loop portion, said presser-member having a concavity coacting with said loop-portion; and means mounted on said closure serving to support said presser-member.

3. In a moistening-device: a font-body; a

closure forming atop-wall for said body, said top-wall provided with a longitudinal slot; a moistening-element mounted in said font-body and extending through said slot; and a resilient cantilever presser-member overlying said slot and coacting with 'said moistening-element, a horizontal pivot member for securing a supporting arm of said presser-member to one end of said closure and .frictionally resisting oscillation of said arm, the presser-member and arm being biased to hold the presser-member under, limited tension when it is in the operative position.

4. In a moistening-device: a font-body having a top-wall provided near a lateral edge with a single'longitudinal slot, the top-wall having upwardly converging lips flanking said slot; a moistening-element mounted in said font-body comprising a U-shaped supporting bar pivotally mounted in said font-body and holding the loop-portion of a wick in said slot; and a resilient cantilever presser-member having one end secured to one end of the font, said presser-member extending substantially the length of the font and having a concave lower side overlying said lips and the intervening loop-portion of said W ck.

5. A moistening-device as specified in claim 4, in which the pressure-member is biased with respect to the top wall, and the free end-portion of said presser-member is equipped with a depending boss adapted to rest on the top-wall of the font.

6. In a moistening-device: an elongated rectangular font-body; a removable closure having a. depending peripheral flange embracing the upper portions of the vertical walls of said fontbody, said closure having near one lateral edge a single longitudinal slot and upwardly convergent lips flanking said slot; a moistening-element mounted within said font and having a portion projecting through said slot; and a resilient sheet-metal cantilever presser-member having one end mounted on an end flange of said closure, said presser-member being concave-convex in cross-section and having its concavity overlying said lips and the intervening portion of said moistening-element.

JOHN H. LEE. 

